Illinois State Fair butter cow unveiled

Posted on August 10, 2023
Lorilee Schultz, whose family farms in Orangeville, near Freeport, is depicted milking the cow. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The famous butter cow, 2023 edition, has taken her place inside the Dairy Building for the Illinois State Fair, which starts Thursday. But she’s not alone. Orangeville dairy farmer Lorilee Schultz is depicted with her, milking her.

How’s the likeness?

“She has a really nice udder on her, and a pretty tail,” Schultz said.

No – the likeness of Schultz !!

“Oh! Well, it’s like the weirdest, coolest thing to be sculpted in butter – not something you would ever put on your bingo card of life.”

Schultz’s young daughter is depicted with a calf in a separate sculpture, so sculptor Sarah Pratt of Iowa included mom as well.

The Illinois State Fair runs Aug. 10-20 in Springfield.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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